New Braunfels receives flag-retirement box from local Scout

Local scout Mason Mitchell of Troop 381 stands with his flag retirement box at the New Braunfels Public Library.

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Residents with old, frayed or worn flags can give them a proper retirement courtesy of the New Braunfels Public Library.

Thanks to Troop 381 Life scout Mason Mitchell, the library is now home to a flag retirement box, according to a city news release.

“The pride and spirit of our country is symbolized in our flag,” Mitchell said. “By responsibly disposing of your flags, you are, in turn, honoring the principles that our country was founded on.”

Mitchell and fellow Troop 381 members spent more than 65 service hours on the project in order to provide city residents with an option to dispose of old flags. Troop 381 collects the flags annually for a retirement ceremony on Flag Day, June 14.

In collaboration with VFW Post 7710, scouts learn the proper method of handling the flag and conduct a Flag Day ceremony where flags are destroyed in a dignified manner.

Troop 381 requests that all flags are properly folded in a triangle formation before being placed in the flag retirement box, the release said.

“From tiny parade flags to the colossal flag flying over the Cemex quarry, Troop 381 retires flags of all shapes and sizes,” Mitchell said. “This is done through the burning ceremony. During this ceremony, old flags are presented one final time and placed into the fire to be properly retired.”

Ian Pribanic covers city government, transportation, business and education news for Community Impact Newspaper in the Keller-Roanoke-Northeast Fort Worth areas. A Washington D.C. native and University of North Texas graduate, Ian was previously an editor for papers in Oklahoma, West Texas and for Community Impact in New Braunfels.